I simply love books which inspire and motivate. I’m on a major spiritual journey, and I’m absorbing as much as I can in order to succeed on my path to greatness. I must be able to help others as well as myself. Growing and becoming the best woman I can be is a constant and daily goal, I must strive for and be better than I was yesterday. My current daily read is Destiny Daily Readings, inspirations for Your life’s Journey by T.D. Jakes.

This little gem is a companion to Bishop Jakes new book Destiny, which I will start reading soon. It’s a book of affirmations, meditations and scripture with suggested action steps on fulfilling your God-given role day by day. It’s definitely food for thought. If you’re on a spiritual journey like I am, this book is for you. Purchase yours here.

Maylana’s Chronicles is THREE!! Oh my goodness! Where did the time go? It has been an amazing journey. So much has happened in my life, in the 3 years since I decided to become a blogger; some things amazing, some things not so much. What’s important is, it’s been a fantastic and enlightening journey, I’ve learned so much, and I’m looking forward to showing you what’s to come in 2015.

I want to thank my true followers, who have stuck with me, through little to no blog posts, to blog posts every single day. Thank you for being here!

Hi Darlings! Now that the partying and celebrations have come to a close, it’s now time to start our personal journey to fulfilling our resolutions, declarations, promises, whatever term you care to use. I feel it in my bones, that 2015 is going to be a marvelous year.

Always remember, if an obstacle should present itself and get in your way, it’s only purpose is to help you grow. Learn the lesson and move on!

I found the above quote on Facebook, for me it sums up how I’m thinking succinctly!

Here we are the 10th month of the year, can you truly believe that we are staring yet another Thanksgiving and Christmas season dead in the face?? Is 2015 really 3 months away!! Is that Swarovski Crystal ball ready to drop in Times Square for its 107th year?? This has been another interesting, difficult, challenging and sobering year for me, but yet again, lessons have been learned and I have taken note. I didn’t have writer’s or blogger’s block, I just didn’t have quality posts to publish or interesting things to say. For me it’s the BEST or NOTHING and I chose to do nothing while I regrouped my blog, my company and my thoughts. Sometimes you have to let the negative things pass through before you move on to the next thing.

This time away (and huge gaps in posting) has allowed me to appreciate a lot of the other blogs here on WordPress, my fellow bloggers have a lot to say and it’s definitely required reading. I love going into my WordPress Reader, because it has allowed me to read and see the creative expressions of others. The one thing I’ve learned about blogging is it’s not always about me, but about what my fellow writers are thinking and doing. I’ve learned a lot from them. They have inspired me to keep publishing. I’ve learned that there’s a whole lot more to blogging then what I’m currently wearing. In another post, I’ll list the blogs I’m following, maybe you can check them out too.

A particularly horrendous time in my life (which literally stunted me, mentally and emotionally) is finally over and a new me has emerged (actually still emerging!), I’m finally resurfacing as an entirely new woman, an entirely new writer, an entirely new entrepreneur. I’m hoping you see the growth in my writings, photography and business ventures, and even if you don’t it’s OK, because I know it’s there. There is a different thought pattern behind what I do now. Whether, it’s a beauty, or style post, the latest technology, an interesting book or something to uplift and motivate you, this is a different writer, then the one who started blogging 2 years ago (nearly three!) a different writer who wrote earlier this year! If we’re lucky we never stay the same, but shed the old worn out skin and emerge bigger, brighter and more colourful than we were before; hopefully life’s difficulties causes us to soar and figure out who we really are and where we truly want to be.

I’ve been blessed to have a large blog following, who have stuck with me even through my intermittent blog posts. I don’t publish numbers, a confident blogger doesn’t need to. All that matters is I love you all for sticking with me♥

Thanks to my Instagram Stylistas who like and comment on my photos, Instagram has been a form of photo blogging for me, (and therapeutic!) a quick photo and a caption, not having to say too much has been perfect for this time in my life. It has kept me in touch with quality bloggers and people who just enjoy taking photos. Again, it has never been about the amount of followers, I certainly don’t have what would be considered a large following on Instagram, but I have quality and meaningful connections and have made fantastic business and social contacts, that mean a whole lot more to me. To all my Selfie Queens (and Kings) out there, keep taking your selfies, if they make you happy, don’t worry about what anyone has to say about you flooding your feed with photos of you, it’s YOUR FEED… Do You!

One thing I know for sure is God has turned ‘ashes’ into ‘beauty’ many times in my life, and he is turning what was meant for ashes into beauty as I speak!

Wow Darlings, can you believe it’s September?? Where did the summer go? Where did the time go? I feel like everything is moving at warp speed; you can’t even make plans, because before you know it, in the blink of an eye, time has flown by and if you’re not careful, you’re standing where you were in January.

I hope you’ve been able to accomplish whatever it is you’ve set out to do so far, and if you haven’t, don’t be hard on yourselves, starting today is soon enough. For me, one chapter of my life has finally closed and it’s an exhilarating time, new beginnings are here and I’m so looking forward to the future. I’ve got lots in store, and I’m truly excited about things to come, but this time, I’d rather show then tell! It’s time to go BRAND NEW!

And every single day, no matter how full or slim your body is. No matter how many so-called flaws and blemishes, embrace them all. Embrace every single curve (or non curve), embrace and love every single part of you, because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE UNIQUE!

Being healthy is more important than what society claims beautiful to be. Eat well, Exercise well, Sleep well, Be well.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my Style Mavens, and especially to all my single ladies, who may feel a little left out and alone today. Never ever let this day make you feel any less than you are or like you’re missing something, because you’re not. You are Whole, Beautiful, Fabulous, Creative and Talented.

For all you single ladies, here’s your anthem “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan

Back in November, I received a nice size sample of Clinique’s Moisture Surge Intense, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. After following the usual 3 steps, wash, clarifying lotion, and moisturizer (for full disclosure, I don’t use the Clinique soap anymore, as I much prefer Burt’s Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Cleansing Cream); you then apply Clinique’s Moisture Surge, by massaging it into your skin. What this product does for your skin is short of amazing, you have an instant glow, and if used at night (which I do), you wake up with your skin feeling really soft. Your skin literally drinks it in.

Since I’ve been using this product, I have definitely noticed a difference in the texture of my skin, which now feels much more hydrated and supple (and of course, drinking lots of water helps). For those of you, like me, with mature skin, this cream is a must have to add to your beauty arsenal. Buy yours here

Also try Clinique’s Moisture Surge which is fantastic (and also in my beauty case) for hydrating your skin during those hot and humid summer months.

2014 came in quietly, she gently sat down beside me and asked, “so what do we do now?” my response, with the grace of God go I. This year, I won’t be making the usual resolutions, the only thing I ask is for Grace, and nothing short of Amazing, which I know I’ll be blessed with. As I gave thanks to the most high for seeing me through the difficult challenges of 2013, and I reflected back on my year, I hope I have learned even more valuable lessons about this journey called life. I feel that I have grown to become a much more enlightened and enriched woman than the one who celebrated her 50th birthday last January, because I’m most definitely not the same as before. Now it’s time to move forward and accomplish the personal goals I have set for myself.

Once again I want to thank my fantastic and beautiful loyal followers who are here with me on my blogging journey, even though I’ve been unable to post as often as I’d like, due to my hectic schedule, which I’m hoping to rectify soon. I’m wishing you all, the most fabulous year you’ve ever witnessed, may your dreams be fulfilled, and you keep moving forward in your high heels and flats on your own incredible journey.

I want to wish you the most Blessed, Prosperous, Creative and Amazingly wonderful 2014. Namaste!